Rail anchor



C..S.ANIMERMAN 1,791,183

RAIL ANCHOR Filed April 25. 192 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 a a M gwoentoz M1"! 5mm.

Feb. 3, 1931. c. s. AMMERMAN 1,791,133

' RAIL ANCHOR Filed April 25. 1929 zshe' ts-srfeet 2 Patented Feb. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFiea CARL S. AMMERMAN, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA BAIL ANCHOR Application filed'April 25,

My invention relates to an anchor or anticreeper device for railroad rails.

An object of my invention is to'provide a one-piece self-locking anchor which will grip the rail with great tenacity and prevent the creeping of same.

A further object is to provide an anchor having sufiicient elasticity to allow its easy application to a rail so as to prevent any one portion from bein flexed beyond its elastic lfimit but still pro uce a strong gripping efect. Y

Another object is to provide an anchor having great resiliency and gripping power which cannot be overdriven beyond its operative position.

Still another object is to provide an anchor so constructed as to produce an unusually strong gripping effect in its final step of application to a rail.

The novel features of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description and claims taken with the accom panying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the anchor illustrating its initial shape and position when applying it to a rail;

Fig. 2 is a viewof the anchor similar to that shown in Fig. 1, except, that it is illustrated in its intermediate gripping position;

Fig. 3 illustrates the anchor in its final and effective position, the dotted lines showing its shape prior to its final position;

Fig. 4: is a plan view of the portion which bears upon the upper surface of the rail base;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of anchor illustrating a stop adapted to pre vent overdriving; and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the anchor in its operative position relative to a cross tie.

Referring to the drawings: 10 designates a rail supported on a tie plate-11 carried on a tie '12. An anchor made in accordance with my invention, as shown on the drawings, comprises an under rail portion 13 having an inwardly bent overhanging flange portion 1 1, and an end upwardly directed toe portion 15. The under rail portion 13 has a substantially straight section 16 which extends from the toe portion 15 to a point substantially 1929. Serial No. 358,137.

midway of the vertical center of the rail and the edge of the rail base opposite the toe 15; a V-shaped under rail depending portion 17 connects the straight under rail portion 16 and the flange overhanging portion 14;; the portion 14: is continued in an inward direction to form an open loop 18, being bent downwardly and outwardly under the overhanging portion 14:.

Beginning suibstai'itially atthe knuckle point 19, the looped portion 18 is gradually thinned or tapered toward its free end 20; the tapering of the end produces a gradual widening of the looped section starting at the knuckle 19 and extending to the free end 20 of the outwardly extending portion 21 as shown in Fig. 4. In forming the loop 18, a gap 22 is allowed between the knuckle 19 and the tapered portion 21 to provide for the downward flexing of the knuckle portion 19 relative to the portion 21 when the anchor is applied to a rail.

The changing cross section of the tapered looped end, beginning at the knuckle 19, provides for a gradually reduced resistance to bending, due to the fact that the section modulus of any particular cross section taken in a plane transversely to the length of the anchor, becomes less and less in the direction of the free end.

My device is applied to a rail by placing it transversely on the rail as shown in Fig. land positioned adjacent the side of a tie as shown in Fig. 6. In this free position the anchor is struck with a hammer or other suitable tool at the point 23 in the direction of the arrow to drive it transversely of the rail to a position as shown in Fig. 3. During the driving of the anchor on the rail to its effective position, the gap 22 between the portion 21 :and the knuckle 19 is caused to close and. a contact effected between these portions. The closing up of the gap is due to the deflection of the knuckle 19 relative to the member 21 and the reaction of the under rail portion 16 at the point 2 1 against the underside ofthe base of the rail. This is made possible because of the fact that the reduced section of the looped end 18 acts as a spring hinge which permits the knuckle to be readily deflected. In this position considerable gripping action is produced between the top and bottom faces of the rail base. Up to this point it is comparatively easy to force the anchor transversely of the rail due to the extra resiliency of the looped portion 18 relative to the other portions of the anchor which are subject to distortion.

To move the anchor from the position as shown inFig. 2 to that shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 requires a harder blow to be struck at point 23 because in this position the major portion of the resulting distortion is distributed throughout the full sectional area portion of the anchor which offers greator resistance to distortion than the looped end portion. With the head of the looped portion 18 abutting the fillet or web 25 of the rail and the remainder of the anchor in the positions as shown by the dotted lines, a strong gripping action is exerted on the rail base between the portion 21 and the point 24 of the under rail portion, and when a final sharp blow is struck at the point 23, the end 15, which is short of the contiguous edge 26 of the rail flange, is caused to snap outwardly and upwardly over the edge 26 of the rail base as illustrated by the full lines in Fig. 3.

Up to the point where the final distortion and snap are given to the anchor, the gripping action has been between the top and bottom faces of the rail base, but after the end 15 has been snapped into its operative position an additional strong grip between the fillet 25 and the edge of the rail base 26 is added to that already existing, and the anchor thus distorted, securely and efiectively grips the rail by virtue of its tendency to assume the condition from which it was sprung.

It will be noted that in the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3 that the knuckle 19 is bearing against the portion 21 of the looped end, and the final blow struck at point 23 in the direction of the arrow tends to further depress the knuckle against the portion 21, thereby exerting an additional gripping effect between the top and bottom faces of the base flange. This extra gripping effect is produced by the general distortion which takes place in the bent portion 17 between the points 19 and 24 and the result is a strong reactive force against the top of the base flange at the knuckle 19 resisting this distortion..

The looped portion 18 not only acts as a spring member but also serves the purpose of a means to prevent the overdriving of the anchor when brought into contact with the bottom fillet or the web of the rail, and the lengt of that portion of the anchor between points 24: and 25 over which the major portion of the distortion is distributed, reduces the possibility of any one portion being flexed be yond its elastic limit, thereby assuring the return of the anchor to its free shape without permanent set.

By widening the end portion 21, the tend ency of the anchor to cock is resisted and the aforementioned tendency to cocking causes a strong pressure to be exerted against the base of the rail without an excessive tilting of the anchor. Thus, it is assured that when the creeping action of the rail discontinues and the rail tends to recede, the anchor is able to easily assume its upright position.

The space between the end portion 21 above the base flange and the point 2 on the under rail portion is normally smaller than the corresponding thickness of the base flange when the anchor is forced into its operative position on the rail base, thus causing the knuckle to deflect and close the gap 22 before the end 15 is snapped over the opposite edge-26 of the base flange.

Referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the anchor in its unsprung condition is formed in such a manner that the free end 15 will bear against the bottom of the rail, so that when the anchor is adjusted to the rail there will be pressure upwardly by the end 15 against the lower surface of the rail, hence when a blow is struck against the outer face of the bent portion 17, the end 15 will be caused to snap upwardly and tightly grip the edge of the rail base and is maintained in such position owing to the distortion eXisting in the outer bent portion of the anchor, and owing to the upward pressure of the end portion 15 there is no possibility of the anchor loosening or dropping ofl, from the vibration which usually occurs during the passing of a train over the track rails.

The anchor may easily be removed by striking the end 15 a downward blow, as the inertia of the flexed portions tending to resume their normal state is sufficient to jar the anchor loose when the end 15 is suddenly released from its gripping position on the rail.

The modification of the anchor as shown in Fig. 5 is similar in construction and application to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, excepting that the stop 27, which prevents overdriving, is provided at the free end of the flat tened portion 21 and is adapted to engage the edge of the rail base instead of the fillet 25. In this design the looped portion 18 is free of the fillet or the web of the rail.

It will be seen from the foregoing descripupturned end is finally driven to its operative position, an added gripping action is effected between the top and bottom faces of the base flange in combination with the gripping action set up between the upturned end at one edge of the base flange and that portion of the anchor opposite the upturned end which serves as a stop to prevent overdriving, and the bending stresses thus induced are dis tributed throughout the greater portion-of the length of the anchor, so that a permanent set in the material will not occur and it may be replaced many times without losing its eflicacy. i

It will also be noted that a rail anchor constructed in accordance with my invention provides four spaced gripping members, namely; that portion of the looped end which engages the top face of the rail base, the under rail portion, the fillet or rail edge engaging portion of the looped end, and the upturned end portion which engages the opposite edge of the base flange. These members provide gripping surfaces which effect a substantially vertical grip between the top and bottom faces of the, rail base and a diagonal grip between the lillet or rail edge engaging portion of the looped end and'the opposite edge of the rail base. The flange overhanging portion provides an additional member which is adapted to exert pressure downwardly against the top face of the base flange when the anchor is applied to a rail.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modiii cat-ions without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire therefore that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art, or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a rail anchor, a looped portion having spaced members positioned above the base of the rail, said looped portion being deformable upon placement of the anchor on the rail to bring said members together.

2. In a rail anchor, a loped portion having spaced upper and lower members positioned above the base of the rail, said looped portion being deformable during placement of the anchor on the rail to cause the upper member of the loop to approach the lower member of the loop.

8. In a rail anchor, a looped portion having spaced upper and lower members positioned above the base of the rail, said looped portion being deformable upon the placement of the anchor on the rail to cause said upper member to be moved in the direction of the lower member to effect a pressure against the top of the rail base,

a. In a rail anchor, an open looped'poe tion having initially spaced upperand lower members positioned abovethe base.;of the rail, said looped portion being deformable during placement of the anchor on the rail to cause the lower member of said looped por tion to exert pressure against the top face of the rail base and to cause the upper member of said loop to approach said lower mem ber and thereby exert additional pressure against the-top face of the rail base,

5. In a rail anchor, an open looped portion having spaced upper and lower members 130- sitioned above the base of the rail, said looped portion being deformable during placement of the anchor on the rail-to cause the lower member of said looped portion to exert pressure against the top face of'the rail base and to cause a portion of said up per member to close in on and exert pressure against said lower member.

6. In a rail anchor, a looped portionpositioned above the base of the rail, said looped portion having an upper member and an underlyingmember in initially spaced relation thereto, said looped portion being deformable upon placement of the anchor on the rail to cause a portion of said upper member to'be moved in the direction ofthe top of the rail base and to effect a pressure thereon. p

7. In a rail anchor, a looped portion positioned above the base of the rail, said looped portion comprising initially spaced upper and lower members and a resilient connecting portion, said looped portion being deformable upon placement ofthe anchor on the'rail to cause a portion of said upper member to close upon a portion of said lower member.

8. In a rail anchor, an outwardly directed member adapted to engage the top face of the rail base at one side of the rail, a member overlying and connected to said outwardly direct-ed member, a portion of said overlying member being in spaced relation to said underlying member before being applied to a. rail but upon placement of the anchor on the rail to be caused to close upon and exert pressure upon said lowermember while being applied to a rail and to exert additional pressure upon said lower member when the anchor has been driven to its final and operative position on the rail, and an under rail portion connected tosaid overlying member adapted to engage the opposite side of the rail.

9. A rail anchor comprising an under rail and flange edge engaging portion, a bent under looped portion having initially spaced members overlying said under rail portion and on the side of the rail opposite to said flange edge engaging portion, and a tie en gaging portion connecting said under rail and said looped portions, the spaced members of said loop being adapted to approach each other and to effect pressures against the top of the rail base when the anchor is applied to a rail.

10. A rail anchor comprising an under rail portion, a depending portion adapted to overhang the edge of the rail connected to one end of said under rail portion, an inwa'dly and downwardly directed open loop portion connected to said overhanging portion, and a rail base engaging member connected to the other end of said under rail portion, the free end of said looped portion terminating above the under side of the rail base.

11. A rail anchor comprising an under rail portion having an upturned end a downward and upward extension at its other end adapted to overhang the edge of the rail, a tapered portion extending inwardly from said overhanging portion and forming a loop, the free end of said loop being bent under said overhanging portion and normally free thereof before being placed in oper ative position on a rail.

12. A rail anchor comprising an under rail portion having an upturned end, a downward and upward extension at its other end adapted to abut a tie and overhang the edge of a rail, an end portion extending inwardly from said overhung portion and bent under said overhung portion to form a loop, said end portion decreasing in thicle ness but increasing in width toward its free end.

13. A rail anchor comprising an under rail portion having an upturned end, a down ward and upward extension at its other end adapted to abut a tie and overhang the edge of a rail, an end portion extending inwardly fro-m said overhanging portion and bent under said overhung portion to form a loop, said end being proportioned to offer less resistance to bending than the other said portions of the anchor.

14. A rail anchor comprising an under rail portion having an upturned end, a downward and upward extension at its other end adapted to overhang the edge of the rail. a portion extending inwardly from said over hanging portion and forming a loop, the free end of said loop being underneath said overhanging portions and initially free thereof, the junction of said overhanging portion and said looped porion forming a knuckle adapted to close upon and press downwardly on the free end of said looped portion when the anchor is operatively applied to a rail.

15. In a rail anchor, an outwardly directed member adapted to engage the top face of a rail base flange, an upwardly and outwardly bent portion overlying said outwardly directed member and initially free thereof, an overhanging flange and depending portion connected to said overlying portion, an under rail base engaging portion connected to said depending portion, said overlying portion being adapted to be brought into pressing contact with said top flange engaging member when the anchor is applied to a rail and moved transversely thereof.

16. In a rail anchor, an outwardly directed member adapted to engage the top face of a rail base flange at one side of the rail, an upwardly and downwardly extending portion overlying said outwardly directed mem her and in spaced relation to the base flange, an overhanging flange and depending V shaped portion connected to said downwardly extending portion, an under rail base and base flange engaging portion connected to said V shaped portion, said overhanging portion being adapted to exert pressure against the top face of said base flange when said base flange engaging portion is caused to engage the edge of the base flange opposite said overhanging flange portion.

17. In a rail anchor, an open looped portion adapted to engage one side of the rail, an under rail portion having an upturned end adapted to engage the opposite side of the rail, and a flange overhanging portion havin a depending V shaped portion connecting said looped portion and said under rail portion.

18. In a rail anchor, a resilient looped portion adapted to engage the web of the rail at one side thereof, an under rail portion having an upturned end adapted to engage the edge of the base flange opposite said looped portion, and a flange overhanging portion having a depending V shaped portion con necting said looped portion and said under rail portion.

19. In a rail anchor, an open looped portion adapted to engage the web and the top face of the base flange at one side of the rail, an under rail portion having an upturned end adapted to engage the edge of the base flange opposite said looped portion, a flange overhanging portion and a depending V shaped portion connecting said looped portion and said under rail portion, the cross section of said looped portion being of greater width than its thickness.

20. In a rail anchor, an open iooped portion adapted to engage the fillet adjoining the web and base flange of the rail and the top face of the base flange at one side of the rail,

an under rail engaging portion having an upturned end adapted to engage the edge of the base flange opposite said looped portion, a flange overhanging portion and a depending V shaped portion connecting said looped portion and said under raii portion, said anchor being so proportioned that when postioned' on a rail and force is applied to the outer portion of said depending member, the upturned end of said under rail member will be caused to snap over the edge of the rail opposite said looped member to eflect a double gripping action between the members engaging the top and bottom faces of the base flange in addition to the grip effected between said looped portion and said upturned end.

21. In a single piece rail anchor compris ing four rail engaging portions, two of said portions being adapted to engage the top and bottom faces respectively of the rail-base flange on one side of the rail, the remaining two portions including an upturned end being adapted to transversely engage points on opposite sides of the rail, and a flexibly hinged member adapted to press downwardly on said top flange member when said upturned end is caused to engage the vertical edge of the rail-base flange on the side opposite said hinged member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CARL S. AMMERMAN. 

